Archive for March, 2014

America’s leading writer about the law takes a close, incisive look at one of society’s most vexing legal issues.

Scott Turow is known to millions as the author of peerless novels about the troubling regions of experience where law and reality intersect. In “real life,” as a respected criminal lawyer, he has been involved with the death penalty for more than a decade, including successfully representing two different men convicted in death-penalty prosecutions. In this vivid account of how his views on the death penalty have evolved, Turow describes his own experiences with capital punishment from his days as an impassioned young prosecutor to his recent service on the Illinois commission which investigated the administration of the death penalty and influenced Governor George Ryan’s unprecedented commutation of the sentences of 164 death row inmates on his last day in office. Along the way, he provides a brief history of America’s ambivalent relationship with the ultimate punishment, analyzes the potent reasons for and against it, including the role of the victims’ survivors, and tells the powerful stories behind the statistics, as he moves from the Governor’s Mansion to Illinois’ state-of-the art ‘super-max’ prison and the execution chamber

This gripping, clear-sighted, necessary examination of the principles, the personalities, and the politics of a fundamental dilemma of our democracy has all the drama and intellectual substance of Turow’s celebrated fiction.

“A thoughtful account of the evolution of [Turow’s] views on the death penalty… Turow does an excellent job of describing how he wrestled with the arguments for and against the death penalty… By clearly and methodically sorting through the issues regarding the ultimate punishment, Turow has performed a public service. By turns shocking and engrossing, this book is highly recommended.”
—Harry Charles, Library Journal

“In that rarest of achievements, a page-turner filled with genuine wisdom, Scott Turow takes us with him on a mesmerizing voyage through the land of murder that he has sadly learned to navigate with skill and compassion, allowing us to hear the stories and feel the grief of the survivors who loved and will never see again those whose lives were stolen in acts of ultimate evil, enabling us to share the experiences of accuser and accused alike as they feel their separate ways through the corridors and courtrooms that constitute the elaborate machinery of death, holding us spellbound as we arrive finally at the secret lying at the heart of every one of Turow’s gripping novels, a secret whose revelation exposes what we truly seek from capital punishment—and why we will never find it there. Written with a fine lawyer’s feel for fairness and with a superb novelist’s gift for telling us truths beyond the power of law’s logic to express, Ultimate Punishment is the ultimate statement about the death penalty: to read it is to understand why law alone cannot make us whole.” —Laurence H. Tribe, Tyler Professor of Constitutional Law, Harvard Law School

tate Senator Paul Giannis is a candidate for Mayor of Kindle County. His identical twin brother Cass is newly released from prison, 25 years after pleading guilty to the murder of his girlfriend, Dita Kronon. When Evon Miller, an ex-FBI agent who is the head of security for the Kronon family business, and private investigator Tim Brodie begin a re-investigation of Dita’s death, a complex web of murder, sex, and betrayal-as only Scott Turow could weave-dramatically unfolds…

Scott is a former supervisor in the United States Attorney’s Office in Chicago, and has extensive experience with federal criminal prosecutions, including grand jury matters, as both a prosecutor and as defense counsel.

It was this seemingly innocuous question by a lovely mother of twins, at a recent birthday party for a friend’s little girl that stopped me in my tracks. I suddenly realized that not being a mother immediately made me a crazy cat lady in her mind.

Did all other women see me like this?

It also drove home the point that because I wasn’t a mother the only other thing women who are lucky enough to be mothers, could think to ask me about, was cats.

Don’t get me wrong as everyone who knows me will tell you I adore our cats. In fact I love all animals. I also love my wonderful siblings, my gorgeous nieces and nephews, my very handsome husband, my dad, and I miss my lovely mum every day.

Two soldiers stationed at the Naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, are
accused of murder. The dead man is William T. Santiago, a Private who was disliked by
even his commanding officer. When the two accused – Lance Corporal Dawson and
Private Downey – plead guilty, Lt. Daniel Kaffee and Lt. Cmdr. Joanne Galloway are
assigned to be their lawyers. Galloway doesn’t believe Dawson and Downey came up
with the idea to kill Santiago; she has suspicions that they were following orders. Kaffee,
on the other hand, couldn’t care less – about this trial, about the Navy, or, at first, about
Galloway’s opinion. The two need to work together to figure out what exactly happened
in Guantanamo Bay – but before they can bring anyone to justice, they need to learn
how to work with one another.

B. Setting & Characters

Setting

The action of the play occurs in the summer of 1986, in various locations

in Washington,
D.C., and on the United States Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Characters

Lance Cpl. Harold W. Dawson Accused of murdering Private William Santiago.
Dawson is slightly faster on his feet than Downey, and
tends to make decisions for both of them. Dawson
has the utmost respect for military protocol and honor.

Pfc. Louden Downey Accused of murdering Private William Santiago in
conspiracy with Dawson. Downey usually follows
Dawson’s lead. He believes completely in the military
ideals of honor and integrity, and that makes it hard
for him to admit that any of his commanding officers
have led him astray.

Lt. j.g. Sam Weinberg A good friend of Daniel Kaffee’s. Sam is not as
involved in the case as Kaffee or Galloway, but he
works on it with them nevertheless.
Lt. j.g. Daniel A. Kaffee The son of a famous lawyer, Kaffee is afraid to try his
best and not measure up. To escape this, he simply
doesn’t try. At the opening of the play, he is far more
concerned about his office softball team than the
cases he’s working on. As he gets more involved in
this case, his priorities start to change.

Lt. Cmdr. Joanne Galloway The only woman in the play, she’s worked hard to
come as far as she has. Galloway first brings enough
attention to the case to have Whitaker discuss it at a
meeting, and then talks her way into being assigned
as a second lawyer, so each defendant has one of
their own. She is extremely intelligent, and sometimes
gets into trouble for saying exactly what she thinks.

Capt. Isaac Whitaker Whitaker is in charge of the military lawyers in
Washington, D.C. He allows Joanne Galloway to work
on the case even though Kaffee was the only lawyer
officially assigned to it.

Capt. Matthew A. Markinson A captain stationed on Guantanamo Bay, under
Colonel Jessep who once worked with Dawson,
Downey and Santiago. He suggested transferring
Santiago off the base, but Jessep chose not to.
Markinson has trouble with the fact that his C.O. is so
much younger than he is.

Pfc. William T. Santiago Although he dies before the action of the play begins,
Santiago appears in a few flashbacks. He was never
a very good soldier, and didn’t appear to care about
his buddies. At one point, he wrote a letter offering to
turn another soldier in for a minor breach in protocol
in exchange for being transferred off the base.

in Washington,
D.C., and on the United States Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Characters

Lance Cpl. Harold W. Dawson Accused of murdering Private William Santiago.
Dawson is slightly faster on his feet than Downey, and
tends to make decisions for both of them. Dawson
has the utmost respect for military protocol and honor.

Pfc. Louden Downey Accused of murdering Private William Santiago in
conspiracy with Dawson. Downey usually follows
Dawson’s lead. He believes completely in the military
ideals of honor and integrity, and that makes it hard
for him to admit that any of his commanding officers
have led him astray.

Lt. j.g. Sam Weinberg A good friend of Daniel Kaffee’s. Sam is not as
involved in the case as Kaffee or Galloway, but he
works on it with them nevertheless.
Lt. j.g. Daniel A. Kaffee The son of a famous lawyer, Kaffee is afraid to try his
best and not measure up. To escape this, he simply
doesn’t try. At the opening of the play, he is far more
concerned about his office softball team than the
cases he’s working on. As he gets more involved in
this case, his priorities start to change.

Lt. Cmdr. Joanne Galloway The only woman in the play, she’s worked hard to
come as far as she has. Galloway first brings enough
attention to the case to have Whitaker discuss it at a
meeting, and then talks her way into being assigned
as a second lawyer, so each defendant has one of
their own. She is extremely intelligent, and sometimes
gets into trouble for saying exactly what she thinks.

Capt. Isaac Whitaker Whitaker is in charge of the military lawyers in
Washington, D.C. He allows Joanne Galloway to work
on the case even though Kaffee was the only lawyer
officially assigned to it.

Capt. Matthew A. Markinson A captain stationed on Guantanamo Bay, under
Colonel Jessep who once worked with Dawson,
Downey and Santiago. He suggested transferring
Santiago off the base, but Jessep chose not to.
Markinson has trouble with the fact that his C.O. is so
much younger than he is.

Pfc. William T. Santiago Although he dies before the action of the play begins,
Santiago appears in a few flashbacks. He was never
a very good soldier, and didn’t appear to care about
his buddies. At one point, he wrote a letter offering to
turn another soldier in for a minor breach in protocol
in exchange for being transferred off the base.

in Washington,
D.C., and on the United States Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Characters

Lance Cpl. Harold W. Dawson Accused of murdering Private William Santiago.
Dawson is slightly faster on his feet than Downey, and
tends to make decisions for both of them. Dawson
has the utmost respect for military protocol and honor.

Pfc. Louden Downey Accused of murdering Private William Santiago in
conspiracy with Dawson. Downey usually follows
Dawson’s lead. He believes completely in the military
ideals of honor and integrity, and that makes it hard
for him to admit that any of his commanding officers
have led him astray.

Lt. j.g. Sam Weinberg A good friend of Daniel Kaffee’s. Sam is not as
involved in the case as Kaffee or Galloway, but he
works on it with them nevertheless.
Lt. j.g. Daniel A. Kaffee The son of a famous lawyer, Kaffee is afraid to try his
best and not measure up. To escape this, he simply
doesn’t try. At the opening of the play, he is far more
concerned about his office softball team than the
cases he’s working on. As he gets more involved in
this case, his priorities start to change.

Lt. Cmdr. Joanne Galloway The only woman in the play, she’s worked hard to
come as far as she has. Galloway first brings enough
attention to the case to have Whitaker discuss it at a
meeting, and then talks her way into being assigned
as a second lawyer, so each defendant has one of
their own. She is extremely intelligent, and sometimes
gets into trouble for saying exactly what she thinks.

Capt. Isaac Whitaker Whitaker is in charge of the military lawyers in
Washington, D.C. He allows Joanne Galloway to work
on the case even though Kaffee was the only lawyer
officially assigned to it.

Capt. Matthew A. Markinson A captain stationed on Guantanamo Bay, under
Colonel Jessep who once worked with Dawson,
Downey and Santiago. He suggested transferring
Santiago off the base, but Jessep chose not to.
Markinson has trouble with the fact that his C.O. is so
much younger than he is.

Pfc. William T. Santiago Although he dies before the action of the play begins,
Santiago appears in a few flashbacks. He was never
a very good soldier, and didn’t appear to care about
his buddies. At one point, he wrote a letter offering to
turn another soldier in for a minor breach in protocol
in exchange for being transferred off the base.

in Washington,
D.C., and on the United States Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Characters

Lance Cpl. Harold W. Dawson Accused of murdering Private William Santiago.
Dawson is slightly faster on his feet than Downey, and
tends to make decisions for both of them. Dawson
has the utmost respect for military protocol and honor.

Pfc. Louden Downey Accused of murdering Private William Santiago in
conspiracy with Dawson. Downey usually follows
Dawson’s lead. He believes completely in the military
ideals of honor and integrity, and that makes it hard
for him to admit that any of his commanding officers
have led him astray.

Lt. j.g. Sam Weinberg A good friend of Daniel Kaffee’s. Sam is not as
involved in the case as Kaffee or Galloway, but he
works on it with them nevertheless.
Lt. j.g. Daniel A. Kaffee The son of a famous lawyer, Kaffee is afraid to try his
best and not measure up. To escape this, he simply
doesn’t try. At the opening of the play, he is far more
concerned about his office softball team than the
cases he’s working on. As he gets more involved in
this case, his priorities start to change.

Lt. Cmdr. Joanne Galloway The only woman in the play, she’s worked hard to
come as far as she has. Galloway first brings enough
attention to the case to have Whitaker discuss it at a
meeting, and then talks her way into being assigned
as a second lawyer, so each defendant has one of
their own. She is extremely intelligent, and sometimes
gets into trouble for saying exactly what she thinks.

Capt. Isaac Whitaker Whitaker is in charge of the military lawyers in
Washington, D.C. He allows Joanne Galloway to work
on the case even though Kaffee was the only lawyer
officially assigned to it.

Capt. Matthew A. Markinson A captain stationed on Guantanamo Bay, under
Colonel Jessep who once worked with Dawson,
Downey and Santiago. He suggested transferring
Santiago off the base, but Jessep chose not to.
Markinson has trouble with the fact that his C.O. is so
much younger than he is.

Pfc. William T. Santiago Although he dies before the action of the play begins,
Santiago appears in a few flashbacks. He was never
a very good soldier, and didn’t appear to care about
his buddies. At one point, he wrote a letter offering to
turn another soldier in for a minor breach in protocol
in exchange for being transferred off the base.

Your blog is the space where you show the world the things that make you tick. You put together stories and images that entertain and enlighten, and invite your visitors in. It’s your own carefully designed museum-living room-coffeeshop packed into a screen.

Some rooms feel a bit cozier, though, with a choice item from the flea market or the antique store. Likewise, your blog can come to life with some well-chosen materials you’ve collected on WordPress.com (and the web in general). Many bloggers are already curating thoughtful content on topics as diverse as design and science — here are some ideas on how best to find and present others’ materials on your blog.

The Academy Awards are just around the corner — millions will tune in this Sunday to watch the annual extravaganza of teary speeches, campy choreography, and Jack Nicholson’s shades.

The blogging world is abuzz, too, with predictions, reviews, and other commentary on Hollywood’s big night. Whether you’re a movie buff or just an Ellen fan, here are some blogs you should visit to get you in the right mood for the red carpet.

And the nominees are…

If you haven’t had a chance to watch all the nominated movies (who does?) and can’t tell Nebraska from Philomena, B+ Movie Blogis here to help. A real labor of love, this site provides readers with detailed breakdowns and thoughtful analyses of each award cateogory, from Best Supporting Actress to Best Original Score.

The purpose of this workshop is to provide a forum of debate for transnational and comparative approaches to the history of small European nations and Europe’s colonial peripheries in World War I in the context of the epochal changes brought by the collapse of large imperial states. Our aim is to reach a more nuanced understanding of the complex relationship between the peripheral regions of Europe and her empires and Europe’s metropolitan core through the comparative and transnational analysis of the contribution of European, Asian and African peripheries to the war effort in World War I.

Prof. Michael S. Neiberg, an eminent scholar of World War I, will deliver the keynote address. Prof. Neiberg has written extensively on the multiple theatres and global reach of the War, most notably in Fighting the Great War: A Global History (Harvard, 2006) and Dance of the Furies: Europe and the Outbreak of World War I (2011).

Scholars are invited to submit papers on themes focusing on social, political, or economic aspects of Europe’s small nations and colonial regions during World War I.

Themes covered may include the following:

• Colonial troops serving in Europe
• Troops of ethnic European minority populations serving in Europe
• Troops of ethnic European minority populations serving in overseas colonies
• Experiences of populations of independent small nations in Europe
• Experiences of populations of ethnic minorities within European multiethnic states
• Experiences of indigenous and settler populations of European overseas empires
• Official attempts to mobilise popular support across all ethnic groups in Europe and in the overseas colonies
• Support for or resistance to such mobilisation efforts and their different outcomes

Papers may address the following geographical regions:
• Peripheries of European multi-ethnic empires in Europe
• Peripheries of European belligerent powers to the east and south of Europe
• Europe’s overseas colonies

The workshop is an initiative of Róisín Healy, Enrico Dal Lago, and Gearóid Barry at the History Department, NUI Galway, and will be held in June 2014 in order to mark the beginning of the commemorations for the hundredth anniversary of thestart of World War I.

Prospective participants should send a paper title and a 300-word abstract, accompanied by a 1-page CV to enrico.dallago@nuigalway.ie
by the deadline of 28 February 2014. They will be notified of acceptance by mid-March 2014.